Against the Grain

We’re up to some mischief (the good kind) at the home of our next ShineUP home makeover mom and we couldn’t wait to give you a sneak peek at one of our favorite accents in the room: a custom pillow made from something a little unusual and, shall we say, “against the grain.”

It’s a grain sack pillow, girls, and it’s soooo easy and inexpensive to make! All you need to do is head to your local antique store to find a well weathered sack. We found this one at “Shop 501” in Chaska, MN for only $12. The distressing and graphic print on it is perfect for creating a vintage, farmhouse feel.

Once you find your favorite sack, the rest is simple:

Wash and dry

Stuff with batting from your local craft store

Sew up the open end for one long pillow, or you can do what we did at our ShineUP makeover house and cut the grain sack in half for two pillows

This one makes a great seat cushion for one of our absolute favorite benches from Target. Drooling? We are too. This heavenly little landing spot is something Jessie created for her entryway.

One last idea for grain sack pillows: they make a beautiful accent for your bed. Just one can make a stunning impact. This one in Jessie’s bedroom is made from an antique, European sack found at Piccadilly Prairie in Edina, MN for $80. A little pricier, but when you consider what you would pay for several accent pillows to decorate the bed, the investment is worth it.

So, don’t be afraid to think outside the box when decorating your home. Sometimes the most unusual items can go a long way in adding character and personality to your space.

We can’t wait to show you all of the other design details from our next ShineUP makeover project. We’re just about ready to share it with you all! Stay tuned! ShineUP episode 2 premieres next week!